A fuel-laden tanker spilled its content in the area on Monday evening and it resulted in a fire.

Senator Olufemi Lanlehin (Oyo South District), Ibadan North West Local Government Caretaker Chairman Alhaji Wasiu Olatunbosun, social workers and community leaders also visited the victims.

Ajimobi assured the victims of the government’s assistance. Moved by the extent of the injury sustained by one of the landlords in the area, Alhaji Yinusa Ajibade, the governor directed the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, to arrange for his treatment at the government’s expense.

Inspecting the affected houses and shops, many of which were completely burnt, Ajimobi described the incident as “most unfortunate”.

He said he felt the pains of the victims because he had a similar experience in 1992, when his newly-built home in Lagos was reduced to rubbles by fire.

The governor urged the victims to thank God that no life was lost.

He said: “My coming here is not to exploit the incident to campaign, but to sincerely sympathise with you. I know how painful it is to lose one’s means of livelihood in a fire, because I once experienced it, but we should take solace in the fact that no life was lost. You should also have faith that God can replenish your lost property in multiple folds.”

Ajimobi said he had told some government officials to compile the names of the victims and indicate the property lost.

One of the leaders of the community, Mr. Joel Adewumi, thanked the governor for his concern and assured him that residents would maintain a clean environment.

Lanlehin urged the Federal Government, through the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to assist the victims.

Pledging to help the victims, he said: “Something urgent needs to be done to ameliorate the pain of the loss. I hope this does not happen again. I see sadness on the faces of the people because they have lost their life-long investments and houses, but let us thank God that no life was lost.

“Of course, some people were injured, and I am sure they will be taken care of. The state government will obviously assist the victims. I will also do whatever I can to get the Federal Government to help through the appropriate agency.”

The House of Representatives also sympathised with the victims. It considered making a law that would make NEMA more responsive to emergency situations.

This followed the adoption of a matter of urgent national importance raised by Mr. Abiodun Awoleye (Ibadan North Federal Constituency), who regretted that NEMA did not respond to the fire until the following morning.

He said: “The fire consumed over 50 houses, 35 shops, two mosques, vehicles and motorcycles. It is disturbing that only the State Fire Service responded to curtail the fire. NEMA did not respond until Tuesday morning.

“In view of this, it would serve the nation better, if the House could mandate the Committee on Emergency and Disaster Preparedness to come up with a legislation that will make NEMA more proactive to disaster management.”

Awoleye said though those critically injured had been taken to hospitals, the casualty figure could have been lower, if assistance came on time.

He also urged the House to mandate the committee to visit the scene of the fire and commiserate with the victims.

The prayers were adopted after the motion was put to voice vote by the Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal.

NEMA is a joke, do they have staffs on stand by to respond to any emergency or distress? Dont they see the response of emergency teams during Boston Marathon bombing.

N.O. Amusa

In view of my last comment on this fire disaster calling on the Oyo State Government to come to the aid of the victims of the incident, I am happy to note that Governor Ajimobi has offered to render assistance to the victims. This is very good. Also noted with satisfaction is the assistance promised to be rendered by Senator Lanlehin. According to my observation that the response of government agency on disaster was not prompt enough was the reaction of a member of the House of Representatives which indicated that NEMA did not do anything until Tuesday. Also, the State Fire Service response was not prompt enough or that they lack adequate facilities to handle the fire of such magnitude. So the government should immediately look into that and people should be adequately sensitised on how to report emergency to the appropriate authority. Finally, I wish to urge the government to quickly make arrangement for the adequate assistance to be given to victims. It should be properly handled and should be monitored by the government. It should not be done like the assistance given to the last flood victims when only one iron sheet was being given to a victim who lost his house roof to the storm. “Mo be ijoba ki o se iranwo lati fihan pe ile oba t’ojo ewa lo bu kun”, meaning that I am appealing to the government to help the victims adequately to show that the house of king that is burnt is rebuilt with beauty.